Joint utilization of Chinese milk vetch and lime materials mitigates soil cadmium risk and improves soil health in a double-cropping rice system.

Cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil poses significant risks to humans due to its strong biological migration and toxicity. Chinese milk vetch (MV) is commonly used as green manure in the paddy fields of southern China and its potential to decrease the availability of Cd has been identified. Nevertheless, the effects of MV combined with lime materials (lime, L; limestone, LS) on Cd availability, soil properties, enzyme activity and comprehensive benefits are still not fully understood in double-cropping rice system. A field study was conducted to investigate these changes. The results indicated that all treatments notably decreased soil available Cd (Avail-Cd) by 19.3-44.3% and 14.9-43.1% during early and late rice, compared with CK. Moreover, the Cd fractions transformed to more stable forms. Compared to CK, all treatments reduced brown rice Cd content by 34.6-64.2% and 12.7-52.5% during the two periods. Furthermore, the translocation factors root to shoot, as well as shoot to brown rice, decreased. The combination led to improvements in soil properties, soil enzyme activity. Meantime, Cd in iron-manganese plaque (IMP) decreased by 31.9-51.1% and 29.0-42.7% respectively during two periods in amendments treatments. Soil pH and DOC were more important factors for Cd bioavailability than other properties. Additionally, rice Cd uptake was positively correlated with Cd in IMP. Enzyme activity exhibited a negative correlation with soil active Cd. Partial Least Squares Path Model (PLS-PM) indicated that the mitigation of Cd pollution helped to improve soil enzyme activity. Grey correlation analysis (GRA) indicated that MVLS showed the best comprehensive benefits in soil-plant system. Overall, the combination of MV and lime materials could reduce Cd availability, enhance soil properties and enzyme activity. And this could be strengthened by the combination. These findings will provide valuable insights for Cd-contaminated soil remediation.

Macrophages in CRSwNP: Do they deserve more attention?

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) represents a heterogeneous disorder primarily characterized by the persistent inflammation of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. The subtype known as chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is distinguished by a significantly elevated recurrence rate and augmented challenges in the management of nasal polyps. The pathogenesis underlying this subtype remains incompletely understood. Macrophages play a crucial role in mediating the immune system's response to inflammatory stimuli. These cells exhibit remarkable plasticity and heterogeneity, differentiating into either the pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype or the anti-inflammatory and reparative M2 phenotype depending on the surrounding microenvironment. In CRSwNP, macrophages demonstrate reduced production of Interleukin 10 (IL-10), compromised phagocytic activity, and decreased autophagy. Dysregulation of pro-resolving mediators may occur during the inflammatory resolution process, which could potentially hinder the adequate functioning of anti-inflammatory macrophages in facilitating resolution. Collectively, these factors may contribute to the prolonged inflammation observed in CRSwNP. Additionally, macrophages may enhance fibrin cross-linking through the release of factor XIII-A (FAXIII), promoting fibrin deposition and plasma protein retention. Macrophages also modulate vascular permeability by releasing Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, they may disrupt the balance between Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases (TIMPs), which favors extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, edema formation, and pseudocyst development. Accumulating evidence suggests a close association between macrophage infiltration and CRSwNP; however, the precise mechanisms underlying this relationship warrant further investigation. In different subtypes of CRSwNP, different macrophage phenotypic aggregations trigger different types of inflammatory features. Increasing evidence suggests that macrophage infiltration is closely associated with CRSwNP, but the mechanism and the relationship between macrophage typing and CRSwNP endophenotyping remain to be further explored. This review discusses the role of different types of macrophages in the pathogenesis of different types of CRSwNP and their contribution to polyp formation, in the hope that a better understanding of the role of macrophages in specific CRSwNP will contribute to a precise and individualized understanding of the disease.

Novel Multifunctional Meta-Surface Plasmon Resonance Chip Microplate for High-Throughput Molecular Screening.

The utilization of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors for real-time label-free molecular interaction analysis is already being employed in the fields of in vitro diagnostics and biomedicine. However, the widespread application of SPR technology is hindered by its limited detection throughput and high cost. To address this issue, this study introduces a novel multifunctional MetaSPR high-throughput microplate biosensor featuring 3D nanocups array structure, aiming to achieve high-throughput screening with a reduced cost and enhanced speed. Different types of MetaSPR sensors and analytical detection methods have been developed for accurate antibody subtype identification, epitope binding, affinity determination, antibody collocation, and quantitative detection， greatly promoting the screening and analysis of early-stage antibody drugs. The MetaSPR platform combined with nano-enhanced particles amplifies the detection signal and improves the detection sensitivity, making it more convenient, sensitive, and efficient than traditional ELISA. The findings demonstrate that the MetaSPR biosensor is a new practical technology detection platform that can improve the efficiency of biomolecular interaction studies with unlimited potential for new drug development.

Prevalence and predictors of depression and anxiety in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a persistent inflammation of the sinuses. As a result of long-term discomfort, patients may experience symptoms of common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression. This may affect the quality of life and disease progression. However, there is still uncertainty about the extent of the problem. OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients with CRS. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases for relevant studies published before 15 July 2022 in patients with CRS with concomitant depression and anxiety symptoms. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently performed screening and quality assessment using validated tools. Extraction of data using predefined standardised data collection spreadsheets. Heterogeneity and inconsistency were checked using the I² statistic. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 32 articles involving 56 933 patients. The prevalence of depression and anxiety symptoms was estimated at 24.7% (95% CI, 21.3% to 28. 1%) and 29.7% (95% CI, 19.3% to 40.2%). Subgroup analysis revealed the following: (1) CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP): 26.2% (95% CI, 21.9% to 30.5%), CRS with nasal polyps(CRSwNP): 20% (95% CI, 15.9% to 24%); (2) Female patients: 36. 1% (95% CI, 25.3% to 46.9%), male patients: 24.3% (95% CI, 12. 1% to 36.6%); and (3) The average age≤50 years patients: 29.8% (95% CI, 21.3% to 38.2%), the average age>50 years patients: 22. 1% (95% CI, 17.1% to 27%). CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of people with CRS have symptoms of depression and anxiety, and early screening for depression and anxiety in people with CRS is critical. And, more attention needs to be given to females and patients with CRSsNP during screening. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42022345959).

[Systematic review and Meta-analysis of efficacy and safety of Bidouyan Oral Liquid in treatment of rhinosinusitis].

This study aimed to systematically review the efficacy and safety of Bidouyan Oral Liquid in the treatment of rhinosinu-sitis(RS). CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed, VIP, Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, and Ovid were searched for the randomized controlled trial(RCT) of Bidouyan Oral Liquid for the treatment of RS patients. Moreover, the reference lists and the grey literature were searched manually. Two researchers independently screened the literature and extracted data. The Cochrane collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias(RoB 2.0) in randomized trial was used to assess the methodological quality of the included stu-dies. Meta-analysis was performed in RevMan 5.3 and Stata 12.0, and the grades of recommendation, assessment, development and evaluation(GRADE) was employed to evaluate the quality of evidence. A total of 54 RCTs(35 with drug combinations and 19 with single drugs) comprising 7 511 patients(3 973 in the observation group and 3 538 in the control group) were included. Meta-analysis showed that Bidouyan Oral Liquid + conventional treatment was superior to conventional treatment alone in increasing the total response rate(RR=1.19, 95%CI[1.15, 1.24], P<0.000 01) and decreasing the Lund-Kennedy scores(MD=-1.94, 95%CI[-2.61,-1.26], P<0.000 01), Lund-Mackay scores(MD=-2.14, 95%CI[-2.98,-1.31], P<0.000 01), and visual analogue scale(VAS) scores(MD_(total VAS scores)=-1.28, 95%CI[-1.56,-1.01], P<0.000 01; MD_(nasal congestion VAS scores)=-0.58, 95%CI[-0.89,-0.27], P=0.000 2; MD_(runny nose VAS scores)=-0.61, 95%CI[-0.93,-0.29], P=0.000 2; MD_(olfactory dysfunction VAS scores)=-0.43, 95%CI[-0.52,-0.34], P<0.000 01; MD_(head and facial pain VAS scores)=-0.41, 95%CI[-0.57,-0.26], P<0.000 01). Furthermore, the combined treatment outperformed conventional treatment alone in improving the mucociliary transport rate(MTR)(MD=1.64, 95%CI[1.08, 2.20], P<0.000 01) and lowering the levels of inflammatory cytokines{tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)(SMD=-1.95, 95%CI[-2.57,-1.33], P<0.000 01), interleukin-6(IL-6)(SMD=-2.64, 95%CI[-4.08,-1.21], P=0.000 3)} in RS patients. In addition, the combined treatment did not increase the incidence of adverse reactions(RR=0.83, 95%CI[0.44, 1.57], P=0.57). Bidouyan Oral Liquid was superior to conventional treatment in increasing total response rate(RR=1.25, 95%CI[1.18, 1.32], P<0.000 01), decreasing the Lund-Kennedy(P<0.01) and Lund-Mackay scores(P<0.05), alleviating major symptoms(P_(total VAS scores)<0.01; P_(nasal congestion VAS scores)<0.01; P_(runny nose VAS scores)<0.01; P_(olfactory dysfunction VAS scores)<0.05; P_(head and facial pain VAS scores)<0.01), and decreasing adverse reactions(P=0.03). The results showed that either Bidouyan Oral Liquid or Bidouyan Oral Liquid + conventional treatment can increase the total response rate, decrease the Lund-Kennedy and Lund-Mackay scores, and mitigate major symptoms. In addition, Bidouyan Oral Liquid + conventional treatment improved MTR and reduced the expression of TNF-α and IL-6 without causing serious adverse events. However, due to the limited methodological quality of the included studies, large-sample and high-quality RCTs are needed to provide evidence support.

Flexible nanoplasmonic sensor for multiplexed and rapid quantitative food safety analysis with a thousand-times sensitivity improvement.

The accumulation of trace amounts of certain small molecules in food poses considerable human health challenges, including the potential for carcinogenesis and mutagenesis. Here, an ultrasensitive gold-platinum nanoflower-coupled metasurface plasmon resonance (MetaSPR) (APNMSPR) biosensor, based on a competitive immunoassay, was developed for the multiplexed and rapid quantitative analysis of trace small molecules in eggs, offering timely monitoring of food safety. This one-step biosensor can be integrated into either a newly designed detachable high-throughput MetaSPR chip-strip plate device or a standard 96-well plate for multiplexed small-molecule detection within a single egg. The limits of detection were 0.81, 1.12, and 1.74 ppt for florfenicol, fipronil, and enrofloxacin, respectively, demonstrating up to 1000-fold increased sensitivity and a 15-fold reduction in analysis time compared with those of traditional methods. The results obtained using the APNMSPR biosensor showed a strong correlation with those obtained using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The APNMSPR biosensor holds immense promise for the multiplexed, highly sensitive, and rapid quantitative analysis of small molecules for applications in food safety control, early diagnosis, and environmental monitoring.

ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging (OSIPI): ASL pipeline inventory.

PURPOSE: To create an inventory of image processing pipelines of arterial spin labeling (ASL) and list their main features, and to evaluate the capability, flexibility, and ease of use of publicly available pipelines to guide novice ASL users in selecting their optimal pipeline. METHODS: Developers self-assessed their pipelines using a questionnaire developed by the Task Force 1.1 of the ISMRM Open Science Initiative for Perfusion Imaging. Additionally, each publicly available pipeline was evaluated by two independent testers with basic ASL experience using a scoring system created for this purpose. RESULTS: The developers of 21 pipelines filled the questionnaire. Most pipelines are free for noncommercial use (n = 18) and work with the standard NIfTI (Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative) data format (n = 15). All pipelines can process standard 3D single postlabeling delay pseudo-continuous ASL images and primarily differ in their support of advanced sequences and features. The publicly available pipelines (n = 9) were included in the independent testing, all of them being free for noncommercial use. The pipelines, in general, provided a trade-off between ease of use and flexibility for configuring advanced processing options. CONCLUSION: Although most ASL pipelines can process the common ASL data types, only some (namely, ASLPrep, ASLtbx, BASIL/Quantiphyse, ExploreASL, and MRICloud) are well-documented, publicly available, support multiple ASL types, have a user-friendly interface, and can provide a useful starting point for ASL processing. The choice of an optimal pipeline should be driven by specific data to be processed and user experience, and can be guided by the information provided in this ASL inventory.

Simultaneous perfusion, diffusion, T2 *, and T1 mapping with MR fingerprinting.

PURPOSE: Quantitative mapping of brain perfusion, diffusion, T2 *, and T1 has important applications in cerebrovascular diseases. At present, these sequences are performed separately. This study aims to develop a novel MRI technique to simultaneously estimate these parameters. METHODS: This sequence to measure perfusion, diffusion, T2 *, and T1 mapping with magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) was based on a previously reported MRF-arterial spin labeling (ASL) sequence, but the acquisition module was modified to include different TEs and presence/absence of bipolar diffusion-weighting gradients. We compared parameters derived from the proposed method to those derived from reference methods (i.e., separate sequences of MRF-ASL, conventional spin-echo DWI, and T2 * mapping). Test-retest repeatability and initial clinical application in two patients with stroke were evaluated. RESULTS: The scan time of our proposed method was 24% shorter than the sum of the reference methods. Parametric maps obtained from the proposed method revealed excellent image quality. Their quantitative values were strongly correlated with those from reference methods and were generally in agreement with values reported in the literature. Repeatability assessment revealed that ADC, T2 *, T1 , and B1 + estimation was highly reliable, with voxelwise coefficient of variation (CoV) <5%. The CoV for arterial transit time and cerebral blood flow was 16% ± 3% and 25% ± 9%, respectively. The results from the two patients with stroke demonstrated that parametric maps derived from the proposed method can detect both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is a promising technique for multi-parametric mapping and has potential use in patients with stroke.

Prevalence and influencing factors of sleep disorders in patients with CRS: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common chronic disease that seriously affects patients' quality of life and imposes a heavy physical and mental burden on patients. There is growing evidence that sleep disorders are strongly associated with patients with CRS. However, there is no systematic evidence to clarify the prevalence and influencing factors of sleep disorders in patients with CRS with nasal polyps (NP) (CRSwNP) and CRS without NP (CRSsNP). For this reason, this study will systematically analyse the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with CRSwNP and CRSsNP and explore the related influencing factors. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will electronically search PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, Ovid, Scopus, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Wanfang database, the China Biomedical Literature Database and the China Scientific Journals Database from the establishment of the database to September 2023 to collect the prevalence of sleep disorders in patients with CRSwNP or CRSsNP and related studies on factors affecting sleep disorders. Two researchers will independently conduct literature screening and data extraction and evaluate the quality of the included studies using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Scale and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality scales. The extracted data will be meta-analysed using Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 14.0 software, and the quality of the evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Publication bias will be assessed using the funnel plots, Egger's test and Begg's test. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This review will not require ethical approval, as we will only use research data from the published documents. Our final findings will be published in a peer-reviewed, open-access journal for dissemination. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42023446833.

[Remediation of Soil Cadmium Contamination by Solanum nigrum L. Enhanced by the Combination of Exogenous Bacteria and Citric Acid].

To determine how to strengthen the Cd-enriched plant Solanum nigrum L. to remediate cadmium(Cd)-contaminated soil, a pot experiment was conducted with five treatments:control treatment(CK), Glomus mosseae(GM), G. mosseae+citric acid(GM+CA), G. mosseae+Bacillus megaterium(GM+BM), and G. mosseae+B. megaterium+citric acid(GM+BM+CA). We measured soil total Cd, available Cd, plant Cd uptake, and microbial community changes and analyzed the effects of exogenous microbial agents and citric acid addition on the remediation effect of Cd contamination by S. nigrum L. The results showed that relative to that of the CK treatment, the root, stem, and leaf biomass of the GM treatment significantly increased by 35.67%, 41.35%, and 65.38%, and the root and stem biomass of the GM+BM+CA treatment significantly increased by 73.38% and 75.38%. The GM+BM+CA treatment significantly increased Cd accumulation in leaves by 226.84%. The GM+BM+CA treatment significantly increased the Cd transport factor from stem to leaves by 52.47%. The GM+BM+CA treatment significantly increased the leaf bioconcentration factor by 120.53%. In addition, the combined restoration also had an impact on the rhizosphere microbial community structure, especially in inducing the relative abundance of some key microbial groups such as Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Glomeromycota, and Olpidiomycota to increase by 2.00%-5.77%, 0.76%-9.96%, 2.11%-3.63%, and 0.54%-2.98%, respectively. According to the RDA analysis, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria were negatively correlated with soil total Cd, whereas Glomeromycota and Olpidiomycota were negatively correlated with soil total Cd. The changes in key microorganisms enhanced the ability of S. nigrum L. to absorb rhizosphere nutrients and resist Cd stress, increased the Cd accumulation ability of S. nigrum L., and effectively reduced the total Cd content in soil. In conclusion, G. mosseae, citric acid, and B. megaterium activated insoluble Cd in the soil by co-inoculation, which contributed to more Cd accumulation by S. nigrum L. and also produced co-remediation with G. mosseae. The enrichment plant-microorganism combined remediation Cd-contaminated soil has good application potential.

The application of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) in chronic rhinosinusitis patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has become extensively practiced and has shown encouraging benefits. Within recent years, ERAS has also been increasingly performed in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, the actual efficacy of ERAS in CRS patients undergoing ESS is not completely clear, and the related evidence remains weak. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ERAS in the perioperative management of CRS patients receiving ESS. METHODS: We searched randomized controlled trials in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Ovid, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, Wanfang, and VIP Database up to February 2023, to analyze the effectiveness and safety of ERAS in ESS perioperative management of CRS patients. We appraised the methodological quality in the included RCTs using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and assessed the quality of evidence with the Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were carried out with the the software Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 12.0. In addition, potential publication bias was detected by Begg's test, Egger's test, and funnel plot test. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies involving 2636 patients were included within this study. In comparison with the standard care (SC) group, the ERAS group had the advantages in the following aspects: length of stay (MD = -2.50, 95%CI: -3.04 to -1.97), pain scores (MD = -1.07, 95%CI: -1.46 to -0.67), anxiety score (SMD = -2.13, 95%CI: -2.83 to -1.44), depression score (SMD = -2.42, 95%CI: -3.13 to -1.71), hospitalization expenses, and quality of life. At the same time, the ERAS group presented a markedly lower incidence of adverse events in comparison to the SC group, such as overall complications (RR = 0.28, 95%CI:0.20 to 0.41), postoperative nausea and vomiting (RR = 0.33, 95%CI:0.21 to 0.50), facial edema (RR = 0.20, 95%CI:0.11 to 0.38), low back pain (RR = 0.28, 95%CI:0.16 to 0.49), urinary retention (RR = 0.12, 95%CI:0.05 to 0.30) and haemorrhage (RR = 0.19, 95%CI:0.07 to 0.55). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that the ERAS protocol is effective and safe in CRS patients who undergo ESS. However, Due to the limited overall methodological quality included studies, caution should be exercised in the interpretation of the results. More high-quality, multiple-centre, and large-sample studies are in demand in the future to further validate its clinical efficacy.

The interplay of inflammation and remodeling in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis: current understanding and future directions.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a common clinical condition characterized by persistent mucosal inflammation and tissue remodeling, has a complex pathogenesis that is intricately linked to innate and adaptive immunity. A number of studies have demonstrated that a variety of immune cells and cytokines that play a vital role in mediating inflammation in CRS are also involved in remodeling of the nasal mucosa and the cells as well as different cytokines involved in remodeling in CRS are also able to exert some influence on inflammation, even though the exact relationship between inflammation and remodeling in CRS has not yet been fully elucidated. In this review, the potential role of immune cells and cytokines in regulating inflammation and remodeling of CRS mucosa has been described, starting with the immune cells and cytokines that act together in inflammation and remodeling. The goal is to aid researchers in understanding intimate connection between inflammation and remodeling of CRS and to offer novel ideas for future research.

A Metasurface Plasmonic Analysis Platform Combined with Gold Nanoparticles for Ultrasensitive Quantitative Detection of Small Molecules.

Food safety related to drug residues in food has become a widespread public concern. Small-molecule drug residue analysis often relies on mass spectrometry, thin-layer chromatography, or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Some of these techniques have limited sensitivity and accuracy, while others are time-consuming, costly, and rely on specialized equipment that requires skilled operation. Therefore, the development of a sensitive, fast, and easy-to-operate biosensor could provide an accessible alternative to conventional small-molecule analysis. Here, we developed a nanocup array-enhanced metasurface plasmon resonance (MetaSPR) chip coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) (MSPRAN) to detect small molecules. As sulfamethazine drug residues in poultry eggs may cause health issues, we selected this as a model to evaluate the feasibility of using MSPRAN for small-molecule detection. The MSPRAN biosensor employed competitive immunoassay technology for sulfamethazine detection. The limit of detection was calculated as 73 pg/mL, with sensitivity approximately twice that of previously reported detection methods. Additionally, the recovery rate of the biosensor, tested in egg samples, was similar to that measured using ELISA. Overall, this newly developed MSPRAN biosensor platform for small-molecule detection provides fast and reliable results, facile operation, and is relatively cost-effective for application in food safety testing, environmental monitoring, or clinical diagnostics.

Application of nanoplasmonic biosensors based on nanoarrays in biological and chemical detection.

Technological innovation, cost effectiveness, and miniaturization are key factors that determine the commercial adaptability and sustainability of sensing platforms. Nanoplasmonic biosensors based on nanocup or nanohole arrays are attractive for the development of various miniaturized devices for clinical diagnostics, health management, and environmental monitoring. In this review, we discuss the latest trends in the engineering and development of nanoplasmonic sensors as biodiagnostic tools for the highly sensitive detection of chemical and biological analytes. We focused on studies that have explored flexible nanosurface plasmon resonance systems using a sample and scalable detection approach in an effort to highlight multiplexed measurements and portable point-of-care applications.

Cynanchum komarovii extract for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis by acting on synovial cells in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cynanchum komarovii (CK), the northwest Chinese region's common medicinal herb, was traditionally utilized to treat arthritis, toothache, bald sores and cholecystitis. Various forms of arthritis can be treated with CK, based on "Medicinal Plants of Chinese Desert Areas". However, the exact mechanism of action in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is uncertain. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the in vitro and in vivo effects of CK extracts on RA and to preliminarily investigate its anti-RA mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main components of CK extract were analyzed by HPLC method. The effects of CK on the proliferation and apoptosis of human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (HFLS-RA) cells and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins in HFLS-RA cells were evaluated by CCK8 assay, flow cytometry and WB assay. To verify the anti-RA effect of CK extracts in vivo, a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established. The rats were divided into six groups: normal group, model group, CK high-dose group (1000 mg/kg, CK-H), CK medium-dose group (500 mg/kg, CK-M), CK low-dose group (250 mg/kg, CK-L) and methotrexate-positive drug group (MTX); the drug was administered continuously for 28 days. Body weight changes, joint swelling, arthritis index, bone density, ankle lesions, immune organ index, splenic lesions and inflammatory factor expression were used to evaluate the in vivo anti-RA activity of the extract. RESULTS: The findings of in vitro experiments showed that 10% CK-containing serum decreased the expression level of Bcl-2, increased the expression levels of Bax and Cleaved Caspase-3 in synovial cells, and prevented TNF-α induced aberrant proliferation and apoptotic antagonism in HFLS-RA cells. According to in vivo studies, CK extract at doses above 250 mg/kg was effective in controlling the levels of inflammatory factors, lowering the arthritis index, and improving foot swelling in CIA rats. When administered at doses up to 1000 mg/kg, CK extract significantly improved synovial lesions, increased bone density, and decreased abnormally elevated immune organ index in CIA rats. CONCLUSIONS: CK has significant anti-RA activity, and its anti-RA mechanism of action may be related to the regulation of the expression levels of apoptosis related proteins and the promotion of apoptosis in synovial cells.

Deep-learning-enabled brain hemodynamic mapping using resting-state fMRI.

Cerebrovascular disease is a leading cause of death globally. Prevention and early intervention are known to be the most effective forms of its management. Non-invasive imaging methods hold great promises for early stratification, but at present lack the sensitivity for personalized prognosis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI), a powerful tool previously used for mapping neural activity, is available in most hospitals. Here we show that rs-fMRI can be used to map cerebral hemodynamic function and delineate impairment. By exploiting time variations in breathing pattern during rs-fMRI, deep learning enables reproducible mapping of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) and bolus arrival time (BAT) of the human brain using resting-state CO2 fluctuations as a natural "contrast media". The deep-learning network is trained with CVR and BAT maps obtained with a reference method of CO2-inhalation MRI, which includes data from young and older healthy subjects and patients with Moyamoya disease and brain tumors. We demonstrate the performance of deep-learning cerebrovascular mapping in the detection of vascular abnormalities, evaluation of revascularization effects, and vascular alterations in normal aging. In addition, cerebrovascular maps obtained with the proposed method exhibit excellent reproducibility in both healthy volunteers and stroke patients. Deep-learning resting-state vascular imaging has the potential to become a useful tool in clinical cerebrovascular imaging.

Nanozyme-Catalyzed Metasurface Plasmon Sensor-Based Portable Ultrasensitive Optical Quantification Platform for Cancer Biomarker Screening.

Developing plasmonic biosensors that are low-cost, portable, and relatively simple to operate remains challenging. Herein, a novel metasurface plasmon-etch immunosensor is described, namely a nanozyme-linked immunosorbent surface plasmon resonance biosensor, for the ultrasensitive and specific detection of cancer biomarkers. Gold-silver composite nano cup array metasurface plasmon resonance chip and artificial nanozyme-labeled antibody are used in two-way sandwich analyte detection. Changes in the biosensor's absorption spectrum are measured before and after chip surface etching, which can be applied to immunoassays without requiring separation or amplification. The device achieved a limit of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) detection < 21.74 fM, three orders of magnitude lower than that of commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Additionally, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) are used for quantitative detection to verify the universality of the platform. More importantly, the accuracy of the platform is verified using 60 clinical samples; compared with the hospital results, the three biomarkers achieve high sensitivity (CEA: 95.7%; CA125: 90.9%; AFP: 86.7%) and specificity (CEA: 97.3%; CA125: 93.9%; AFP: 97.8%). Due to its rapidity, ease of use, and high throughput, the platform has the potential for high-throughput rapid detection to facilitate cancer screening or early diagnostic testing in biosensing.

The Effect of a Long-Term Care Insurance Program on Subjective Well-Being of Older Adults with a Disability: Quasi-Experimental Evidence from China.

China launched its long-term care insurance (LTCI) program for older adults in 2016. Although the scheme has shown some promising outcomes, little is known about whether it improves subjective well-being. This study explored this topic among older persons with a disability and identified the underlying mechanisms associated with the channel of this effect using data from a national survey. The LTCI program was shown to improve the subjective well-being among older persons with a disability and this effect increased over time. The LTCI program has great positive effect among women and those who lived alone compared to their counterparts. Mechanism analysis revealed that the main channel by which the LTCI program has positive effect occurred through the satisfaction of long-term care needs and improved self-reported health. This study suggests promising benefits of the LTCI program for older Chinese adults.

Versatile nanorobot hand biosensor for specific capture and ultrasensitive quantification of viral nanoparticles.

Accurate determination of the concentration and viability of the viral vaccine vectors is urgently needed for preventing the spread of the viral infections, but also supporting the development and assessment of recombinant virus-vectored vaccines. Herein, we describe a nanoplasmonic biosensor with nanoscale robot hand structure (Nano RHB) for the rapid, direct, and specific capture and quantification of adenovirus particles. The nanorobot allows simple operation in practical applications, such as real-time monitoring of vaccine quantity and quality, and evaluation of vaccine viability. Modification of the Nano RHB with branched gold nanostructures allow rapid and efficient assessment of human adenovirus viability, with ultrahigh detection sensitivity of only 100 copies/mL through one-step sandwich method. Nano RHB detection results were consistent with those from the gold standard median tissue culture infectious dose and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. Additionally, the Nano RHB platform showed high detection specificity for different types of viral vectors and pseudoviruses. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the Nano RHB platform is a promising tool for efficient and ultrasensitive assessment of vaccines and gene delivery vectors.

Does the provision of informal care matter for caregivers' mental health? Evidence from China.

This paper investigates the causal effect of informal care on the mental health of caregivers and disentangles the mechanisms of such effect. Using 2011-2018 CHARLS data, the fixed effects and instrumental variable approaches was conducted to address fundamental endogeneity problems. This study found that there was no impact of informal caregiving on caregivers' mental health in general. However, the intensity of caregiving was shown to negatively impair mental health. The impact of informal caregiving varied by kinship, cultural context, and residential area. Participation in social and exercise activities and life satisfaction mediated the association between the provision of informal care and caregivers' mental health. Long-term care insurance and the provision of formal care substantially modified the negative impacts of informal caregiving.